[The effect of hydrocortisone or dexamethasone on human erythrocyte membrane insulin receptor].

It is shown that the maximum specific binding rate (B/T) of erythrocyte membrane receptor to insulin was significantly decreased, the concentration of plasma insulin was significantly increased and the level of plasma glucose was not obviously changed after taking hydrocortisone (1.25mg/kg) or dexamethasone (37.5 micrograms/kg) orally. Scatchard analysis showed that decreased B/T was not mainly due to the change of the affinity or number of foci of insulin receptors, as no significant influence on insulin binding was found in vitro. The data suggested that the effect of both drugs on insulin receptor was multifactorial, including the secretion of insulin as well as the combination of insulin to its receptors.